Russian Enforcer's Royal Engagement (Russian Enforcers Book 7) by Nic Saint Page A

minute. He tapped his desk. “And the account information? There must be something you can deduce from the bank account that was hacked.”
    The policeman checked his notes and cleared his throat. “We went over that with Mr. Yulian Gornakov. The funds that were stolen were placed in a private account set up by Yuri Gornakov as a trust fund for Miss Anastasiya Gornakov. Mr. Gornakov told us he wasn’t aware of the existence of the account. Only his father knew about it, and perhaps the few lawyers and bankers who set it up.”
    He pointed at the man. “Then perhaps that’s where you should focus your investigation. One of these men must have talked. How else could the terrorists have found out?”
    “I’m afraid it is not that easy.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Mr. Gornakov has decided to treat this as a private affair. He has denied us access to either his bankers or attorneys.” The policeman coughed. “Also, since all these people are Russian subjects, it is very hard to track them down. We would need assistance and permission from the Russian authorities, and send a rogatory commission to Moscow.” He shook his head sadly. “I’m afraid they will never give us permission without Mr. Gornakov’s approval.” He gave Jack his best impression of a sad bulldog. “I’m afraid it’s looking rather hopeless on that end.”
    He couldn’t help but agree. They talked for a few minutes more, the chief explaining how they’d looked into helicopter rentals. Nothing. Wherever the chopper had come from, it had gone the same way as the terrorists themselves: vanishing into thin air.
    Finally, after ascertaining the investigation was still nowhere, he dismissed the policeman. He found it hard to understand how these men had gained access to the castle, had managed to disable its communications systems and gotten away with their daredevil antics without leaving a single trace. It was baffling to say the least.
    A knock on the door sounded, and he rumbled, “Yes!”
    Looking up, he found it was his brother Rudolph. His scowl immediately morphed into a smile of relief. He was always glad to see his brother’s mug.
    “Hey, buddy, how are you holding up?” Rudolph said the moment he stepped into his office.
    Jack seldom occupied this space on the second floor of the castle, though now he was glad Dad set it up a couple of years ago, when he still held hopes Jack would stay in Montinia and take over some of the royal tasks. Instead, he’d spent the past five years overseas, Rudolph picking up the slack.
    He stood to pace the floor. “It’s an outrage!” he lamented. “Mike and Emily have been going over every inch of the castle. So have Armand and the entire police force, and not a single trace of these guys. Not a one, can you believe that? It’s almost as if they were never here.”
    “Except for the big hole in the ceiling and that mess they made when they detonated a bomb in father’s study, you mean,” retorted Rudolph.
    “Except for that,” he amended. Repairs had been put off until the police investigation was finished.
    “What did Armand say?”
    Jack held out his hands in frustration. “What can he say? He doesn’t remember a thing. These guys simply came in and knocked him out cold.”
    Rudolph nodded. “Gassed, just like Diana, huh?”
    “Untraceable. And now Yulian Gornakov doesn’t even want to give us permission to pore over his accounts or interrogate his lawyers and bankers.”
    Rudolph shrugged. “That was to be expected. The guy runs a shady business. I don’t think he’s too keen on outsiders snooping around and discovering the skeletons in his closet.” He cocked an eyebrow. “Literally, I should think.”
    “He could set up an independent investigation. Check into matters himself.”
    Rudolph eyed him incredulously. “He doesn’t even want to do that?”
    “Nope. Says he’s got better things to do and can’t be bothered.” Which wasn’t exactly what Yulian had said. The